Conductor

Charge carriers are freely movable in the conductor.



Examples:

• Metals
• Plasma

Semiconductor

In semiconductors, charge carriers can be generated by heat and light irradiation. Often a small movement of electrons is already possible at room temperature.

Examples:

• Silicon
• Diamond

Isolator

In the insulator, charge carriers are firmly bound to the atomic shells.

Examples:

• many plastics and salts